Looking good, feeling good

There are very few cities in our country that are nice to go to, and Manila is one of those places I would never forget.

I still remember a few years back when the Baywalk hardly had any restaurants on the side. They only had a few barbecue stands.

I used to actually enjoy walking around there late at night. I would buy fruits from this fruit stand nearby and eat them over a nice conversation. Those were the days I truly treasure.

After a few years, Manila City Mayor Lito Atienza has done so much for his city. Baywalk is always packed with people especially when they hold events there.

It’s not like before when it used to be empty on some parts of the day when you can just really relax, enjoy while watching other people and appreciate the simplicity of life.

Last year, when my brother first came here, he kept mentioning Roxas Blvd. to me, so I took him there. We went for a stroll together with the S-Files staff.

Rep. Miles Roces, Mayor Atienza’s son-in-law, escorted us to the hospital to get my brother’s special condition checked. This was probably the most memorable thing that ever happened to us in Manila.

During last year’s election period, I also performed in shows to support Mayor Atienza and Rep. Miles Roces.

Mayor Atienza even took care of our lunch when I saw him at this seafood restaurant earlier this year.

I was so embarrassed! It’s also very funny how one of Mayor Atienza’s sons, Ali Atienza and his girlfriend, are also friends of mine.

And I have absolutely nothing, but good things to say about these people.

Just a couple of days ago, I met Chi-Chi Atienza and Maile Roces, two of Mayor Atienza’s daughters. Maile and Chi-Chi have a clothing and shoe boutique along Jupiter St. in Makati.

Chi-Chi’s clothing store, Nullah, is the first store I discovered with nice hip clothes that only had one piece per color and style.

It means I wouldn’t be walking around wearing the same clothes as the others do. Since this city gets smaller and smaller everyday, the chances of being seen in the same outfit as that of the other girl in the bar, high.

Chi-Chi’s clothes are very unique and colorful. They are very different from those you see in other shops.

Maile and her good friend, Rina Laud, own the shoe store Shoe-bi-do. It has all kinds of sandals, and I mean literally different kinds of sandals!

I’ve always been into flat slippers because of my height. But it’s just so hard to find one that fits me right because my feet are size nine.

Asian women’s feet are smaller than the norm, right? So, some of the Asian size nine don’t fit me!

I usually ask my sister to buy shoes and underwear for me in the States, but since I discovered Maile and Rina’s Shoe-bi-do, I found a whole new meaning to sandals.

Why? Well, have you ever heard of that build-a-bear stuff in the US, where you get to pick which bear you want and dress it up with all kinds of things?

Shoe-bi-do is very much similar to that. You can pick the type of sandal you want, then accessorize it with colored stones and jewels. You can even pick the color, shape and size of your heels! The best part of it is that the sandals come in all sizes.

I’ve finally found some nice local slippers I can design and wear to any occasion. If I were to really sit there and make myself a design, I would probably take a whole day just trying to pick my sandals. It would drive you crazy!

They are so neat and the prices are very reasonable. So, if you would like to check them out by any chance, you may call at (02) 890-4280 or just visit Shoe-bi-do at Unit 103 Doña Consolacion 122 Jupiter St., Makati.

Chi-Chi’s clothing boutique is just right next to Shoe-bi-do. I definitely recommend this place especially to those who like to be unique. The place is very easy to find.

By the way, I would like to take this time to thank the Entertainment Press Society for nominating me in the Best Celebrity Talkshow Host category for my defunct show, Secrets.

Although I didn’t make it to their big night, I still feel very much honored to be one of the nominees alongside with the big stars like Boy Abunda and Tita Mel Tiangco. Thank you, Enpress! Have a blessed Sunday!